The First Letter from Japan!

Grady and the other 9 new Elders with President and Sister
McIntyre--this is how we knew he had truly arrived in Japan!!

July 27, 2009 We just received Grady's first email from Japan! He arrived in Japan last Tuesday, July 21. We knew he arrived because his mission president, President McIntyre, posted pictures of the new elders on his blog. We were so excited when we saw the pictures because we hadn't yet heard from Grady. It was just so awesome to see him sitting with the other nine new elders in President McIntyre's home in Japan. They all looked so good and happy. Then, a couple of days later, we received his first email. We thought we might receive it Sunday evening or Monday morning because we heard that his P-day would be Monday. I'm not sure how many times we checked our email Sunday, probably atleast 100! Then, around 11:00 PM there it was! I wasn't home because I had taken Rudy over to the Davis' so he could leave for the Middle Fork at 4:00Am Monday. Gus checked the email and when I got home, he was sitting at the computer, waiting for me. He hadn't read it yet! So sweet! I read it outloud and we both were crying. He sounds so excited and so happy and we were just so thankful for his positive attitude and his strong desire to share the gospel. Here's his sweet letter:

Hey family! It was good to here from you again. Ya the plane ride was pretty long but it was worth it! I love Japan! Everything and everyone is so small. I was at the mission home in Kobe for two days then I got assigned a new area and companion. My new companion’s name is elder Harris. He is from Hurricane Utah. He is really funny and likes to have fun. I already like him. He speaks really good Japanese but it is very fast. He laughs as much or more than me. Oh and I actually have two comps for a week now. Elder Neider is the third and he is from DC. His new comp had some complications or something so he is with us for now. He lives in the same apartment. I am in the Abeno, Osaka area. It has the most people in the mission! Osaka is huge. There are people everywhere. There are a lot of colleges in Osaka so there are a lot of students too. We focus on the younger generation because they are the future leaders of the church. Yesterday was Sunday and it was sweet. The ward is really nice and I am really going to like it. It is a pretty big ward for Japan with 100 to 150 coming each week. O and about your questions. Ya I bought new scriptures. I bought another quad but a lot smaller. They are the nice leather ones. I bought them with my money at the MTC. I saved up the whole time for them. I don’t need anything at the moment but maybe next week. I bought the Mission helmet. I like it so I probably wont need another one. Now don’t be mad but I bought a used bike from a missionary for 20 bucks. He kept really good care of it and it should last for two years. The bikes here are so cheap it isnt worth it to buy a new one. My comps bike started breaking not very long after he bought it and he spent like $450. I thought it was worth a try. The last couple of days we have been doing a lot of street time. We just talk to everyone we see. There are some really busy places here so there are a ton of people always. I love talking to people because I am not afraid to make a fool of myself. I cant understand anything they say to me but I am trying. I haven’t really picked up what anyone has said. They talk so fast. O and dad the cars here are pretty funny. They are all so small! They are all like Subaru 360 sized. They even have vans like it. But I have seen a Ferrari and a lot of Porsches. Most everyone bikes or rides mopeds it seems like. Right now we have a couple of investigators and one just committed to be baptized last night. His name is Fujita San and he is like 30. He is a really nice guy. He comes to eikawa, and that is where Elder Harris met him. eikawa is an English class we teach to people. I cant really understand what is going on during the lesson but it has been cool because the spirit fills in the blanks. I know he is going to be baptized because during the first lesson I felt the spirit very strongly. During lessons I just pretty much teach very simply or bear my testimony. I have felt an improvement in my speech since coming here because I like to try. O and on a funny note I just got done using the toilet. Ya the ones that spray your butt. It was interesting but not bad. the seat was also heated. But really I have really enjoyed Japan. The people here cant grasp the concept of a God. I know they aren’t Christian here but they haven’t ever thought about God, there purpose in life, or where they go after they die. Every time we ask someone this question they don’t know what to say. They are for the most part very polite and pretty happy. But they need the gospel. They need to feel love. I look forward to waking up every morning because I know what someone searches their whole life to find out. My job is to find these special people who are searching. I know that I am not wasting my time here. It has been difficult but there are people waiting. It is like finding a needle in a haystack but the Lord will provide a way. I love you guys and thanks for everything. Ill talk to you next week. Matane.

The Call from the Airport

July 20, 2009 We just got off the phone with Grady. He called from the LA airport only about 30 minutes before his flight for Japan was leaving. He'd been on the ground for 2 hours before he called us! Waiting for his call was excruciating!!!! Gus came home from work early so he wouldn't miss it and ended up waiting three hours. My mom came over and waited two hours, but had to leave to attend a funeral. Lenzi was in Utah, camping with Jon's family, so she was waiting anxiously for us to call her when he called (3 Way calling is great!). Unfortunately, Rudy was on the Middle Fork, guiding for the Boy Scouts, so he missed the call.

I kept thinking that maybe he missed the plane in Salt Lake or maybe something happened in the airport or maybe he couldn't find a phone to use! Lenzi said that knowing Grady, he probably started talking to someone and forgot to call us!!! (I was really hoping that wasn't the case--that he forgot to call us!) What did happen is there was a bomb threat at LAX so they had to evacuate the airport. I don't think he was evacuated but I think it may have either affected the incoming flight from Salt Lake or maybe they had to stay on the plane when it landed--we had such a short time to talk that I didn't get the whole story. But, most importantly, he sounded great!!! He said he loved the MTC but he was ready to get to Japan. He said that there are eleven missionaries traveling with him to Japan. He also spoke some Japanese and it sounded great to us! He said it was amazing how fast the language came. He said that he isn't very good at either speaking or understanding yet, but he felt like he learned an incredible amount at the MTC. We were especially glad to hear that he hadn't lost his sense of humor. He said that he was always hot and sweating-especially because he had to carry around a 20 pound purse!! He was referring to his messenger bag. The way he said it was so funny and we all had a great laugh, just like we used to do.

I'm so glad he sounded so good. We were all pretty sad after talking to him, but how can we be sad when he is so happy. What an exciting journey we're all on!

Pictures from the MTC

These are four of the missionaries from Twin Falls. Timbrel Essma is to the left of Grady. Grady graduated with her sister, Danielle. Next to Grady is David Nielsen--he and Grady are both going to Kobe and they graduated together with the other missionary in the picture, Jamison Bastow. Such a fun picture!

This is Grady's MTC district celebrating an early Christmas. Grady's teacher, Wilkes Sensei, is in the back row, right side, with the backpack. His companion, Wiser Choro, is behin Grady's right shoulder. I love how happy everyone looks!!

This is Grady and Woodrow Choro, an elder in his MTC district. He is from South Carolina and is going to Sendai.

This is Grady and Timbrel Essma. Such cute missionaries!

Ready or not, here I come!!

I can't believe that this is Grady's last letter from the MTC. In each letter I can tell that he is continuing to learn and grow. This week I was interested to read that he is aware of how hard he is on himself. He has always expected so much from himself. I'm glad he realizes that after he does all that he can do, the rest is in the Lord's hands. I know he'll do all he can do to be the very best missionary he can possibly be. We're so proud of him and we love him so much.

July 14, 2009 Hey everyone! It was good to hear from you again. How is everything? Sounds like the river was fun and Olivia’s tonsils are doing great. Well, this is the last time you will hear from me from the MTC. I am so excited. The MTC has been great but I just feel like it is time for me to go. Thanks for all the food and stuff. I keep on forgetting to thank you. To tell you the truth I haven’t eaten much of it. If I do I won’t be able to fit in my pants. I haven’t weighed myself in a while but I have a feeling that I have gained weight. I just get so much food to eat here in the cafeteria and stuff but I do appreciate it. This week was good. David Nielson and his comp. were called as the new ZLs. Me and Wiser Choro get to train them this week. We had a good talk last night with my teacher Wilkes Sensei. He talked about how most people think that if they have enough faith then everything will go great. He is very honest and tells it how it is. He went to Hiroshima where there wasn’t much success. One of the elders in my district’s brother served there too at the same time. He didn’t get one baptism and Wilkes Sensei said he was the hardest working, most diligent missionary that he ever saw. This missionary woke at 5 every morning to study. Many people in the church have this concept backwards. Faith is the most important thing in the gospel. I know this but our faith doesn’t take away free agency. This would be Satan’s plan. This hopefully isn’t tough for me to grasp because I am hard on myself. What my job is to do is to have great faith and follow the promptings that I receive. That is all the Lord asks of me. This isn’t my work,-- I am an instrument to the Lord. If am like Ether in the Book of Mormon, so be it. Ether didn’t see any success while preaching to the Jaredites and he was a prophet with great faith. Of course I want an Ammon like experience but I realize that after all I can do and if I have great faith it is in the Lord’s hands. This doesn’t mean that I mess around and wait for some answer. This is wrong also. Faith comes by exercising it and making it happen. I hope I won’t struggle with this once I get to Japan. The Japanese is going well and I love speaking it. It will be so nice to have everyone around me speaking Japanese. I won’t be able to understand but at least I will try. . I will be in LA at 10:45 so be expecting a call between 11 and 12. Oh, and I am going to have to send the extra stuff home by mail. It is a rule. I am going to leave now because I might need to send you something later today because I am packing. Thanks again for everything and I love you all.

I had to laugh that he tells us what time he can call from Los Angeles, but not which day!! His Visa Application said that he flew out on July 22, but his MTC address said July 20th so I called the MTC and he leaves Monday, July 20th. I can hardly wait to talk to him!!

Another Good Week in the MTC

It sounds like Grady had another good week. I am amazed at how positive he always is. I’ve heard how difficult the MTC is and how some people hate it and can’t wait to get out of there, but I never suspect any hint of this with Grady. Even when he does have some disappointments, like he did this week, he seems to be able to get through them and learn from them. I loved how he prayed and received comfort this week when he was feeling like he just hadn’t done enough to help that elder. I love his positive attitude and the way he sees opportunities to learn and improve himself. I’m sure he’ll have many more days that are difficult and even times when he doesn’t think he can do it. I just pray that he will continue turn to his Heavenly Father for comfort and help in these times. I’m so thankful for his ability to look at the bright side and see the positive. This will make those difficult times so much easier for him.

July 7, 2009 Hey family! It was good to get your letters. We didn’t receive any letters over the weekend because of the holiday. Everyone in the district was going a little crazy but yesterday the mail came. This week has been really good. I get my flight plans on Friday and leave in under two weeks. This is way exciting. I am pretty sure I sent a letter to grandma and grandpa but I’ll check again. I feel like it is crunch time now. These last two weeks I can either not work or work. I have decided to work. You mentioned the firework show that you guys had sounds pretty sweet. I got to watch some of the stadium of fire. It was pretty sweet but just not the same as being with family and friends. The language is going really well. I try to speak all Japanese everyday except for the class room and stuff and it is going pretty well. Today I am only speaking Japanese because I don’t really have to speak to anyone in English so it is easier. Last Tuesday I only spoke 8 English words the whole day! My goal today is 0. I hope I can get it. This week I did get pretty disappointed. The elder in my zone didn’t get sent home but his call was changed and now he is going to Columbus, Ohio English speaking. I felt awful because I felt that I didn’t do enough. That night was pretty rough, but I was really comforted and I know it is for the better. It felt like High school again. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you try because the person still has free agency. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do all we can first though. This Sunday another elder in my zone was struggling also. We have talked since and really have become close. He is 21 and has been through a lot in his life. He really knows the importance of the atonement. The older missionaries are usually so powerful like he is. The MTC has been great! The spirit is so strong and I love all the speakers we get to hear. This Sunday was fast Sunday so we got to listen to many speakers. One told a story about one of his mission companions that changed his life. He served in England and it was his first day there. His first companion was named Elder Richardson. Elder Richardson was always so happy and energetic. Richardson would stay up till midnight every night to study. He would wake up at 5 to study more. He only had 5 hours of sleep every night but was never gloomy or had a bad attitude. When Richardson got back he went to Vietnam and was killed. Elder Richardson was always serving others till the day he died. Elder Richardson really changed peoples lives and I want to be like him. O and before I forget I want the Teddy Roosevelt quote that Rudy always says. The one on the Fastest Indian. Thanks. Well time is running out but this experience has been amazing. I got another investigator in the RC this week and I know the gospel will bless her life. This work is real and it is my responsibility to serve others my whole life but especially these two years. I love you all and I hope to hear from you soon.

I have a feeling that Grady will be like Elder Richardson that he mentions in today's letter. He has always been very determined and when he sets his mind to something, he doesn’t ever quit until he’s accomplished it. I’ve always known that this quality would serve him well in his life,but now that he’s on a mission, I can really see how much it is going to help him.

Week 8 in the MTC

This was Grady's eighth week in the MTC. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I miss him often and so many things make me think of him. Even when I'm really missing him, I'm not really sad, but just so happy he was worthy to serve a mission. I am so excited for the growth we are already seeing in him and I especially love seeing the positive attitude he has, even when things are difficult. This week is no exception. Here is an excerpt from this weeks' letter-

June 30, 2009 Hey family! How is it going? The wedding sounded pretty fun and I wish I was there? The MTC has been great this week. All the new mission presidents were getting trained so the first presidency and the apostles were here everyday. I never got to see any of them till Friday. Friday was the devotional for the week and Elder Holland spoke. It was awesome! He spoke on the importance of having the spirit when we teach. I have already realized that without the spirit and God's help I am nothing. It is kinda harsh, but true. The way I look at it is that the spirit is all I got. I could have the best teaching skills on the planet and still not help anyone get baptised. We had an LGM (I'm not sure what that is!) the other day and the speaker talked on what makes a great missionary. He had a missionary that baptised 400 something people! This was incredible! This elder had to be like Nephi or something. But he wasn't. He was a regular missionary that set higher goals than everyone else. He also worked harder and accomplished those goals. Some missionaries just don't have the vision. At first I set some lofty goals that no one thought I could do. Everyone told me to lower my goals because they were unreachable. I finally gave in and instead of reaching the lower goals I just got worse. Now I am back on track and really trying to reach my goals. I know with faith anything is possible. Class sometimes can be funny. Ill ask the teacher a question about a gospel topic and it seems really elementary to everyone else. After I ask it everyone all tries to explain it to me like I am a little child. Its funny more than frustrating. For example we were talking about prayer and fasting and I told them about when I was fasting for Kyle and he still died. I told everyone that I felt bad because I could've done more. I was just asking the teacher how I could explain that prayers and fasts don't always get answered(in the way we want). Everyone tried to encourage me and said, " o its alright don't feel bad-- it was God's will." I am kind of sick of this line in our church because it can be understood incorrectly. I think that it is God's will after all we can do. This would be going against everything about our church. Faith without works is dead. We are judged on our works, after all we can do, and a lot of time it isn't enough. That is where the atonement comes in. I know that I don't know a lot about the gospel but I do know that we are instructed to do all we can. I am not bitter about Kyles death or anything. I know God has a plan for everyone, but it is our responsibility to do all we can do. Also this week there is an elder in my zone that is struggling a lot. I really like him and have been doing everything to help. He might have to go home but I pray that he doesn't. Time is short sorry. I love you all. I am so happy that you were my parents. I can't imagine what I would be like if I had different parents. You really taught me everything that is important in life. Thank you. Love you all and I hope to hear from you soon.

Seeing in High Definition

This weeks letter was a bit short, but as always, very sweet! I know Grady is working hard and doing his very best.

June 23, 2009 Hey family! Hows it going? The MTC has been pretty good this week. All the new Japanese missionaries came in. I see Dave Nielsen everyday. He is right down the hall. All the new missionaries are looking up to the me and my comp right now. That is just the way it works out. I am trying my hardest to be a good example. I got your letter last night and I loved it. It was good to hear about the river again. It brings back good memories. Before I forget, about the contact thing. I only bought a year supply because it was with my money and I know you would be mad if I spent my own money on them. They were kind of expensive but I really like them and have noticed a difference. It is like I am seeing in High Definition Now (I love this!!). All the new mission Presidents are beings trained this week so it is a little crazy. But I am glad they are here because it probably means that we will have an apostle speak to us at devotional. Tell Travis that I wrote him a long time ago and I never got anything back, maybe it got lost. This week I also got a little disapointed becasue Kim had company when I called. She said to call back the next week so I am going to try to get ahold of her today. I was so sad because it is so important for her to accept the gospel. But I was also blessed that night too. I talked to a hispanic man named Marcos on the phone. I am sending him a Book of Mormon today and I hope he reads it. He sounded like a very nice guy. Other than that things are going allright, Well It was good to hear form you guys and thanks for everything. This gospel is amazing and nothing can stop it from spreading. Hope to hear from you soon!